Madagascar
Madagascar is a vast island in the Indian Ocean whose long isolation has produced exceptionally high levels of endemism. A mountainous central plateau divides the humid eastern rainforests from the much drier west and south. Western Madagascar contains deciduous forest, wetlands and dramatic limestone tsingy formations, while the southwest is characterized by unique spiny forest dominated by drought-adapted plants. Mangroves, coastal lagoons and extensive dry scrub add further diversity. Much of Madagascar's original forest has been lost or fragmented, making its remaining protected areas particularly important for conservation.
Overview
Madagascar is one of the world's most distinctive birding destinations, with more than 100 endemic species and several bird families found nowhere else. Highlights include the remarkable ground-rollers, vangas, mesites, asities and couas. Eastern rainforests such as Andasibe-Mantadia and Ranomafana hold species including Pitta-like Ground Roller, Velvet Asity and Madagascar Blue Pigeon, while the southern spiny forests around Ifaty offer Long-tailed Ground Roller, Subdesert Mesite and Lafresnaye's Vanga. Western wetlands are crucial for highly threatened species such as Madagascar Fish Eagle and Madagascar Pochard. Madagascar has a well-established specialist birding industry, usually combined with its famous lemurs and other endemic wildlife. However, poor roads, long travel times and remote sites make comprehensive trips logistically demanding, and local guides are particularly valuable for locating secretive forest endemics.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malagasy Bulbul Hypsipetes madagascariensis | 41.1% | 35.7% | 43.2% | 35.1% | 40.3% | 44.8% | 41.0% | 40.7% | 40.9% | 41.1% | 41.5% | 44.0% | 44.9% |
| Souimanga Sunbird Cinnyris sovimanga | 37.6% | 32.4% | 36.8% | 36.1% | 36.3% | 37.4% | 37.3% | 39.1% | 37.9% | 39.9% | 38.7% | 40.5% | 39.2% |
| Red Fody Foudia madagascariensis | 36.7% | 54.2% | 52.5% | 56.6% | 50.5% | 40.1% | 31.9% | 23.6% | 20.5% | 23.9% | 21.5% | 26.9% | 38.7% |
| Common Myna Acridotheres tristis | 35.2% | 47.4% | 37.2% | 45.7% | 36.1% | 35.2% | 32.1% | 32.7% | 25.7% | 27.6% | 31.3% | 33.7% | 38.3% |
| Crested Drongo Dicrurus forficatus | 35.2% | 28.2% | 35.3% | 32.3% | 35.0% | 34.9% | 36.5% | 36.9% | 38.0% | 35.1% | 36.7% | 37.8% | 36.2% |
| Malagasy Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata | 26.0% | 20.1% | 23.6% | 23.6% | 25.8% | 25.8% | 25.7% | 26.9% | 30.7% | 28.0% | 27.7% | 27.9% | 25.9% |
| Olive Bee-eater Merops superciliosus | 25.9% | 23.0% | 23.9% | 26.4% | 28.0% | 24.4% | 31.8% | 33.4% | 28.0% | 27.1% | 24.8% | 22.6% | 17.7% |
| Madagascar Magpie-Robin Copsychus albospecularis | 24.9% | 20.4% | 16.9% | 17.7% | 20.4% | 24.5% | 24.5% | 28.4% | 29.3% | 27.6% | 28.3% | 31.7% | 29.1% |
| Malagasy Coucal Centropus toulou | 24.3% | 29.9% | 30.4% | 25.8% | 17.0% | 14.9% | 20.0% | 19.8% | 20.8% | 23.1% | 28.5% | 30.2% | 31.1% |
| Malagasy Kestrel Falco newtoni | 23.5% | 26.1% | 21.9% | 24.9% | 27.3% | 25.2% | 24.5% | 21.9% | 24.8% | 19.6% | 21.5% | 23.4% | 21.0% |